This early Mayan site covers a very large area, 42
square miles.
It is a favorite site for the adventurous.

At Coba, the jungle has not been cleared away and
that makes it easier to feel like one is stepping back in time.
It's that Indiana Jones kind of feeling.

Coba is famous for a missing king, Chac Balam (Red
Jaguar) who disappeared after age 30, with no stone
records marking his death--very unusual for a Mayan ruler. It is
assumed he was probably captured by enemies.

White Roads:Mayan for "water stirred by the wind", Coba is
next to a group of shallow lakes. The archaeological remains
are of a city begun in AD 600.

These structures were scattered along a system
of sacbe, which means "white
roads". Each sacbe was built to exact rules. There was
to be a base of stones three to 6 feet high, about 15 feet side,
covered with white mortar. The
remains of more than 50 sacbe have been found crossing the Peninsula
There are more in Coba than in any other location.

Coba
was the largest city of its time with many outlying villages,
and an important trade link between the Yucatán
Caribbean coast and inland cities.

The PyramidsThe second highest pyramid on the site is called La
Iglesia (the church). From the top there is a view of the
surrounding jungle and one of Lake Macanxoc. Nohoch
Mul, the tallest pyramid here is 138 feet tall. At the top
there is a small temple with a carving of the Descending God.

StelaeThere is a collection of carved stone pillars,
or stelae, arranged in an area called the Grupo Macanxoc. 32 more
Classic period stelae scattered throughout the Coba area.

Cunjunto Las PinturasConjunto Las Pinturas was named because of the
stucco paintings that once lined the walls. Here, clues of the paintings,
in layers of yellow, red and blue -- can still be seen on the top
corner of the temple.